Session One: What is Personality? How Parents and Teachers Can Help Children Develop Healthy Personality Traits Session One: What is Personality? Welcome and introductions

Personality: A definition Is there a difference between weather and climate? Weather is a state that is transient and short lived, but aspects of climate are relatively stable over time Our “climate” is the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make up our personality! Personality-the system of enduring, inner characteristics of individuals that contributes to consistency in their thoughts, feelings, and behavior Human beings have a basic need for consistency and stability…

Personality Development Timeline Personality is pretty much set in stone by age 3… TRUE or FALSE?

Personality Development Timeline (continued) FALSE!!! The first years of life are certainly an important time in personality development, but our system of enduring inner characteristics is still developing through our adolescence…and into our early adulthood! Instill hope…an environment can be created to modify personality throughout childhood…

Personality Development Timeline (continued) However, personality changes in adulthood are much more gradual and usually occur over an extended period of time Personality involves behavioral consistency Humans yearn for stability!

Personality and Behavior What makes you behave the way you do? Do you respond to things in your world, or do you behave because of the way you feel inside? Behavior is an expression of personality How does the behavior express the personality trait?

What motivates behavior? Think about one of your behaviors you would like to change… What is motivating that behavior? If you change the behavior, have you changed the personality trait, or have you just fulfilled that need with something healthier or more acceptable?

Changing behavior or changing personality? You can create an environment for a child that fosters a change in a child’s behavior, but you cannot change the child’s personality trait that is motivating that behavior

The Challenge: Encouraging a new behavior that still satisfies the personality trait! Think of your child (or student)… Is there a behavior that needs to be changed so the child can be more successful? Ask yourself what you believe is being satisfied by that behavior… What positive behavior could still satisfy that need? Question: We would not consider trying to change the behavior of a child who is paralyzed and in a wheelchair and having difficulty getting to his desk in the back of the classroom…we would change the environment so that child could better meet their need to get to a desk, right?!

What do you do to meet the needs of your unique personality? The Issue: Human beings have basic drives, which include the need to obtain the basics (such as food, clothing, shelter), the need to feel secure and loved, and even the need to feel like we belong What do you do to meet the needs of your unique personality? Your behaviors are expressions of you trying to meet your personal needs! Self-disclosure: I have the need for approval, so I work very hard to do well in things that will get recognized…

The Key: Acceptance As parents and educators, it is critical that we learn to accept all aspects of a child’s personality…even those we do not like as much! Through acceptance we can consider all of the child’s personality traits when attempting to change the situation to better meet the child’s needs in a more positive way

Discussion & “Homework” In your workshop journal, write down: Your child’s (or a student’s) name A behavior that could be more positive But do not focus on this behavior…go on… What you feel is motivating the behavior? What could you change in the child’s environment to meet their needs in a better way? Formulate a plan of action and record updates in a daily journal over the course of the next week Are you frustrated with your child’s behavior(s)? It is OKAY to feel this way! All parents feel this way at times. You would not be here if you did not want to help your child! Good for you!